Author Topic: Handgun For Hunting In Grizzly Country (Read 12053 times)

Camba · « **Reply #90 on:** October 17, 2010, 07:07:33 AM »

What about this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKTeEmNUkjw

Just for fun.

Camba

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #91 on:** October 18, 2010, 10:32:29 AM »

mrussel · « **Reply #92 on:** October 18, 2010, 02:27:39 PM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on October 18, 2010, 10:32:29 AM

IT says "His favorite Hornady ammo". If I interpret that correctly he was using commercial ammo,not Hornady components loaded up to some Ruger only specs.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #93 on:** October 19, 2010, 11:53:44 AM »

either way it would be fun

hunter3705 · « **Reply #94 on:** January 15, 2011, 04:39:55 AM »

The Ruger super redhawk Alaskan in .454 was designed specifically to meet this need.

S.B. · « **Reply #95 on:** January 15, 2011, 08:13:56 AM »

In the Alaskan Hunting forum there's a very good thread several pages back now. Also, there is a member here who posted some very good personal experiences about this very same subject that Randy(Glancebamm) mentioned.
Steve
[/quote]

mrussel · « **Reply #96 on:** January 15, 2011, 09:03:42 AM »

Quote from: mcwoodduck on August 07, 2010, 10:43:00 AM

These threads pop up every so often for Guys like me that grew up on the east coast, or west coast and want to go hunting for elk or mule deer in areas where there are Grizzley bears. While the grizzley bear is on the California flag there has not een one in the state for over 100 years. This is much like guys that have hunted 100's of white tail deer and wanting to hunt elk or moose are not sure what to expect and we get books, ask questions and on. None of these books talk about bears in the area and what to expect if you see one.
We have read about them, in many stories and in places like Lewis and Clark where the big brown bears scared the corp of discovery in how agressive they are.
My friend I hunt with grew up in Grizzley country and they scare him, bears in general scare him. I had to hide tracks of a grizzley from him so he would not stop hunting in an area we saw steaming elk poop.
The idea of having a handgun for personal protection and a reason to get a big bore are one in the same.
As I said in an earlier post you are not going to drop your rifle to grab a hand gun if you see one.
On the other hand as others pointed out. A handgun will be on you when you do other things. head for the outhouse, gather firewood, or helping carry downed animals back to camp or the truck when hauling a rifle or shotgun is awkward.
I am sure you have seen the pictures of the hunter and the guide with a moose down and a grizzley that attacked them.
The guide looks shocked and the hunter is holding a 44 Revolver that he used. While rare it does happen and if you feel better with extra fire power on your hip or under your arm. What harm is it if he wants to know what others carry and have used and carry one himself?

Well,we have black bears here,but I still have a healthy fear/respect for any top level predator.

I bought a book on elk hunting when I moved to Utah that had a whole chapter on them. I don't get why people are bothered buy the bear threads. Yes there are others,but I have not read them. When I saw one,I then searched for more and read them because I thought they might have some interesting information. I got exactly that. From reading here and reading some books and talking to people,I think I have a pretty good idea about what you want if your attacked by a bear. Preferably something with wheels operated by a 5 man crew. Of course,I'm not going to have that and in many places I'm not even legally allowed to carry a rifle or a shot gun. Would I rather have my Auto 5? You bet! In many of those places I CAN carry a revolver. I take what people say on the internet with a grain of salt,but what I have taken away from them many threads is,carry the biggest damn thing you can reasonably carry and be proficient in it. Seems protecting yourself from bears is just like protecting yourself from violent criminals,the choice of weapon just changes.

S.S. · « **Reply #97 on:** January 15, 2011, 10:36:32 AM »

Most of the folks I know who hunt in Grizzly country
carry bows and common sense. I also know for a fact
that a lighter and a can of engine starting fluid is very effective
in clearing your camp of unwanted visitors too. Everything fears fire.
Face it folks, most never get the opportunity to hunt in big bear country
anyway so most of this is a mute point.

The Famous Grouse · « **Reply #98 on:** January 21, 2011, 09:33:28 AM »

I would personally take my cue from what I've seen carried by river guides in Alaska. These guys are guiding clients and operating camps in areas where the Grizzly bears congregate in the highest numbers at certain times of year.

Far and away the choice of weapons for bear defense is the short barrel 12 gage shotgun loaded with rifled slugs and/or 3 inch mag buckshot. It's fast handling, does not require elaborate practice in order to be able to hit a target with it, and very few handguns can replicate the thumping that that bear is going to get from a massive 12 gage slug.

There are soft spots on a bear and if you pound 5 slugs into any bear's body, he's going to feel the pain. There are no guarantees, of course, but it has always seemed a lot more likely to me that the average guy would be able to hit a bear with 1 or more shots even in a panic situation like a bear charge compared to the average guy using a handgun. The bottom line is that most casual handgun shooters I see at the range are just not that good.

I've seen deer that were shot in the head by a slug, and basically that massive chunk of lead simply blew open their skulls like a tin can. The relatively low velocity of the slug means that the full brunt of the energy is absorbed by whatever it hits because it doesn't fragment very easily. A bear that takes 1 or more hits from slugs or buckshot is going to have some serious issues to worry about beyond continuing his attack. Again, no guarantees, but if it were me playing the odds, I'd do what I see guys doing who are far more experienced in bear country than I am: Carry a shotgun.

Grouse

temmi · « **Reply #99 on:** January 21, 2011, 11:19:24 AM »

480 Ruger with 400g bullets

yooper77 · « **Reply #100 on:** January 23, 2011, 06:19:21 AM »

I would rely on my rifle over any handgun in grizzly country. The odds of actually pulling the handgun for protection are lucky at best. The rifle is your best bet in that situation.

I would take my Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight in 338-06 A-Square hand loaded with Nosler 225 to 250 grain Partitions for hunting in grizzly country.

I would also carry my Ruger New Model Blackhawk in 45 Colt hand loaded with 310 grain hard cast lead bullets with H-110 powder but would not consider it as my primary grizzly medicine.

yooper77

icfmike · « **Reply #101 on:** January 26, 2011, 03:35:40 PM »

I bowhunt in grizzly country, if I see sign I leave, nothing is worth running into one of them. I have friends that carry 40's to 454's and I laugh at them and say be sure to save the last one for yourself cuzz more than likely your just going to make them angry. Common sense and a lot of luck is what you need to carry more than anything if you run into one of them. And maybe a side arm just to make yourself feel secure.

S.B. · « **Reply #102 on:** February 16, 2011, 01:56:24 PM »

S&W John Ross custom 500 but, then I won't probably have enough strength to carry anything else.

Steve

Delkal · « **Reply #103 on:** March 13, 2011, 01:35:41 PM »

This might be offensive to some but an old timer once told me that if I carry a handgun for Grizzlys I should cut the front sight off and polish the end of the barrel up nice and shiny.

It won't help hitting the Grizzly but it will hurt less when he shoves it up your A**!

A handgun will not stop a charging Grizzly and if its not charging you shouldn't be shooting it. Good luck.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #104 on:** March 13, 2011, 03:35:12 PM »

Quote from: Delkal on March 13, 2011, 01:35:41 PM

This might be offensive to some but an old timer once told me that if I carry a handgun for Grizzlys I should cut the front sight off and polish the end of the barrel up nice and shiny.

It won't help hitting the Grizzly but it will hurt less when he shoves it up your A**!

A handgun will not stop a charging Grizzly and if its not charging you shouldn't be shooting it. Good luck.

Well there are stories of people stopping them with a 44 Mag, so the 500 Mag would work.. Do some research!

Drilling Man · « **Reply #105 on:** March 14, 2011, 07:20:45 AM »

Will a 44 mag. stop a chargeing brown bear? Yes it will, with a PERFECT shot. Can you make that perfect shot on a chargeing bear with a 44 mag. and full power loads? Just because it has been done, doesn't mean YOU can it.

I'm always amazed that a person will think a 44 mag. is just fine for a big chargeing bear, but they wouldn't even dream of hunting a big bear with a 44 mag. lol I've taken much big game with hanguns, and i'd put my faith in a 12ga. shotgun with slugs over ANY handgun for big bear protection.

If i already have a rifle on me, that's the only weapon i'd be concentrateing on to take care of a chargeing bear...

DM

gr8ful · « **Reply #106 on:** March 14, 2011, 09:26:20 AM »

I prefer a .32 ACP and a slower hunting buddy, preferably one who does not know he is expendable.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #107 on:** March 16, 2011, 11:37:07 AM »

Quote from: gr8ful on March 14, 2011, 09:26:20 AM

I prefer a .32 ACP and a slower hunting buddy, preferably one who does not know he is expendable.

And now yu know why I do the cooking at camp and bring stuff like ribeye steaks and Lamb racks.
These were the 30 day wet aged ribeyes I took to Az in Feb for the Javilina hunt.

gr8ful · « **Reply #108 on:** March 17, 2011, 06:43:41 AM »

bringin camp grub like that will sure keep you off of the expendable list.

1911crazy · « **Reply #109 on:** March 22, 2011, 06:16:51 AM »

Quote from: jcn59 on July 18, 2010, 06:10:46 PM

I'd be carrying my Tikka .338 mag., so I wouldn't need to carry no stinkin handgun but I'd carry one just for fun anyways. My S&W Mountain gun, 44 mag., 250 grain WFNGC over 22. grains H 110.

When i first went out hunting blackbears we would carry a 30-06 rifle and a 44mag as a side arm. When i got the 338wm i left the handgun home. The 338wm has more power so no handgun is needed. Plus i can put two 338 rounds thru the same hole at 100yds. My point is we need to be accurate with it too. Remember the only thing a man can out run is a chicken.

S.B. · « **Reply #110 on:** March 22, 2011, 06:57:07 AM »

Quote from: 1911crazy on March 22, 2011, 06:16:51 AM

Quote from: jcn59 on July 18, 2010, 06:10:46 PM
I'd be carrying my Tikka .338 mag., so I wouldn't need to carry no stinkin handgun but I'd carry one just for fun anyways. My S&W Mountain gun, 44 mag., 250 grain WFNGC over 22. grains H 110.

When i first went out hunting blackbears we would carry a 30-06 rifle and a 44mag as a side arm. When i got the 338wm i left the handgun home. The 338wm has more power so no handgun is needed. Plus i can put two 338 rounds thru the same hole at 100yds. My point is we need to be accurate with it too. Remember the only thing a man can out run is a chicken.

But, this is a handgun forum and the original question was about a handgun?
Steve

Art1 · « **Reply #111 on:** March 22, 2011, 10:52:23 PM »

Ruger bearcat 4in bbl 22LR

gstewart44 · « **Reply #112 on:** March 23, 2011, 08:57:47 AM »

wear a brace of these: 60 cal. or 20 gauge

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #113 on:** March 23, 2011, 09:26:59 AM »

Quote from: gstewart44 on March 23, 2011, 08:57:47 AM

wear a brace of these: 60 cal. or 20 gauge

Neat!
Is that yours?
If so how does it shoot, what is the recoil like?
Are they practical as a handgun?
I have looked at the front stuffer in Cabela's a few times and often wondered about getting a 20 or 410 sized new frame and making a 44 mag, 45 colt, 45-70 or one of the .490 pistol calibers.

gstewart44 · « **Reply #114 on:** March 23, 2011, 10:09:29 AM »

I actually replied sort of tongue in cheek.

.... I really wouldn't actively pack this for bear. I have carried one during ML season in Flawda and Jawja and thats for dispatching wayward hogs. The picture is of an English undelever cartridge gun. Mine is a very close copy of the one muzzleloader offered by Cabelas, got it about 20 years ago during my Black Powder state of mind.

It is percussion and smooth bore, about 20 g, I stuff heavy patched .60 cal hardcast punkin balls in it.
Now the fun factor with this is outstanding, however it weighs almost as much as a Colt Walker, Recoil is not bad even with heavy BP loads - I think the smooth curved shape of the handle helps.
I would hope never to be a situation to have to use this against a bruin

'cause if I did that would probably mean the beast is right on top of me with ill intent in mind. But I reckon it was designed with a purpose, that being to dispatched foul tempered tigers in India.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #115 on:** March 24, 2011, 05:13:23 AM »

How many of you actually have hunted in Grizzly country? I know a few here have as well as myself.

Let me tell you, you don't think about toting that rifle everywhere with you. When in camp sometimes it is something you forget to grab when you are doing stuff around camp. When I was hunting in Alaska, we slept in tents in the middle of nowhere, I had my handgun on my side 24/7. I slept with it in my sleeping bag. A rifle in a tent when your sleeping will do you no good. A handgun with you in your sleeping bag, can be deployed very fast.

I think we all would agree a rifle is your best tool, and is the more powerful than the most handgun rounds. But a handgun can and has been used to kill Grizzly.

While in Alaska, we had a Grizzly come into our camp. We spotted it a long distance away working a mountain ridge, within 2 hours it worked toward our camp. We were in a low area by a lake, and when the bear crossed the river it went out of sight, we back out of came and went to higher ground, so we could see where the bear was going to come in at. The bear came in by the lake, and was less than 50 yards from our tents. We were 200 yards on the other side of camp watching the bear. The bear spotted us and stood up on it hind legs to look around, and decided to get out of the area. Had we not spotted the bear and it decided to take the higher ground and approach our camp, it would of been only 25 feet from the camp and we would not of seen it until it was right on top of us.

Long story short, take what you think will work. Having 2 guns is better than one! Use your head in Grizzly country, and always be aware of everything around you.